Author: Namratha Gopal | Illustrator: Parvathi Nayanar
Hair porosity is an ability of your hair to absorb and preserve liquids or the moisture in the cuticle of your hair strands. This indicates how easy for moisture that can penetrate your hair. It tells you how well the oils and moisture pass in and out of outermost layer of your hair known as cuticle. Hair porosity is typically categorised into three broad categories: low, medium and high porosity. Let’s have a closer look on what affects it and how you can figure that out. Let’s check them out –
What affects the porosity of hair?
Usually porosity is genetic but it may also be affected by external factors like pollution and hair care routines like chemical processing, use of heating tools, etc. So knowing your hair porosity can help you out in choosing the right products to keep your hair healthy, well moisturized, nourished, strong, shiny and supple.
How to determine hair porosity?
Float test is the most commonly used method to determine and know how porous your hair is!!! For the float test you need to take one glass full of water and drop in your 1 to 2 hair strands. Wait for a minute or two to allow it to sit. If your hair stands afloat, you have a low porosity. If it sinks, you have high porosity and if it’s in the middle of the glass, you have medium/normal porosity which is perfect.
Characteristics of low, medium and high porosity hair
Characteristics of low porosity hair
The cuticles are likely to be tight and laying on each other. This makes it harder for the moisture to get in to the hair shaft. It takes long time for your hair to dry and the hair care products tend to sit but doesn’t absorb easily which makes it less effective. Less porous hair makes it difficult for the water to saturate while washing.
Characteristics of normal/medium porosity hair
The cuticles are neither close together nor open. And yes, this is how the hair supposed to be. The medium porous hair will allow the moisture to penetrate easily and makes it retain for longer period time which is again a good sign of healthy hair. Medium/normal porous hair makes it an easy option for you to style your hair, doesn’t take too long to dry your hair, hair products works the best, takes in the color well and it looks strong, healthy and glossy.
Characteristics of high porosity hair
The cuticles tend to have more gaps and/or spaces between them. Due to this, your hair allows to lock in the moisture easily but is not capable enough to hold in the moisture for longer period of time. With high porous hair your tends to break easily, it tends to become frizz and dry, the moisturizing hair care products works best and is quickly absorbed into your hair.
Products to treat low and high porosity hair
Please understand that if you have low or high porosity hair by genetic then you will not be able to change your hair porosity. However, there are products that you can try which helps you in managing your hair and ways to style them.
For low porosity hair –
- Avoid protein rich products and conditioners. This can make hair less likely to cause product buildup.
- Never miss out conditioning your hair. Make sure to dilute your conditioner and then apply at your hair ends, this makes it easy for your hair to absorb.
- Use heavy oils like castor oil and coconut oil in your hair care oiling regimen and light amounts of natural butters like cocoa butter, shea butter etc.
- Look for the ingredients like glycerin and honey in your hair care products.
- Make sure to use hooded dryers or steamed cap or steamer when you condition your hair.
For high porosity hair –
- Never ever skip deep conditioning your hair in your regimen.
- Look for the moisturizing ingredients like butter, oil etc in your shampoos and conditioners. This helps in moisturizing your hair really well.
- When it comes to home remedy, you can always use moisturizing hair masks like using banana oatmeal hair mask and aloe vera mask etc.
- Avoid taking hot water bath. Always use lukewarm water for washing the hair and when conditioning your hair.
- Try leave-in conditioners and sealers.
- Can also switch to protein treatments.
Disclaimer
- The content in this article is for generic information only and its nowhere a substitution for medical opinion.
- Get your dermatologists supervision if you are facing any underlying scalp and skin issues.
- For medium or normal porosity hair. It takes any kind of hair products and works effectively. So make sure to use the one that suits you.
- Get your dermatologist’s recommendation if you are confused about brands for the products to use.
- The method we have used in here is the most common method that is used widely to test hair porosity. If you do not get proper results do try out other methods like spray test, dynamic absorption test, fiber swelling test etc. with proper care and knowledge.
